Gun sight attachment

ABSTRACT

A vertically disposed, horizontally elongated frame is mounted by a clamp about halfway down the gun barrel and defines a horizontally elongated sight opening. The frame includes upper and lower members for preventing over shooting and under shooting and possibly also a set of lead indicating elements at longitudinally spaced points on one of these frame members.

I United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,886,667 Rueb June 3, 1975 GUN SIGHT ATTACHMENT gaillley et al 0 ms [761 Inventor; g g 3,500,545 3/1970 Chivers 33/241 agary. er a, ana a [22] Filed: June 22, 1973 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter I Assistant Examiner-Steven L. Stephan [21] Appl 372536 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Larson, Taylor and Hinds [52] US. Cl 33/233; 33/261 57 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. F4lg 1/00 [58] Field of Search n 33/233, 241, 242 243, A vertically disposed, horlzontally elongated frame is 5 t ,5 to l 5, 33/261 mounted by a clamp about halfway down the gun barrel and defines a horizontally elongated sight opening.

UNITED STATES PATENTS also a set of lead indicating elements at longitudinally l E a spaced points on one of these frame members.

, e aron 1,476,884 12/ 1923 Gregory 33/233 5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures GUN SIGHT ATTACHMENT This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sight attachments for gun barrels, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a sight of an improved construction by which a hunter may prevent over shooting or under shooting and possibly also determine the horizontal lead for shooting at birds in flight.

The gun sight of the invention comprises a horizontally elongated frame which is mounted by a clamp halfway down the length of a gun barrel and defines a horizontally elongated sight opening whereby the hunter may (a) prevent over shooting or under shooting by keeping the target vertically between the upper and lower members and/or (b) lead a target a desired distance and keep it on target by keeping it within the longitudinal limits of the sight opening. The gun sight of this invention is particularly adapted for use where the need is to take a general bead on the target rather than aim with pinpoint accuracy. Examples include a shotgun or shooting with a regular rifle in the general direction of a target such as when shooting in rapid succession at a moving big game target.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a sight of this type in which the frame is provided at longitudinally spaced points with sighting elements such as beads or notches whereby the amount of lead taken may be determined to enable the hunter to take the same amount of lead on subsequent occasions, if so desired. In some embodiments of the invention the sighting elements are fixed on the frame, while in another embodiment they are adjustable.

The gun sight of the invention is simple in construction, highly efficient in use, may be easily applied to or removed from a gun barrel, and lends itself to economical manufacture.

The above and other objects and advantages will become apparent as from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing one embodiment of the lead sight of the invention;

FIG. 2A, 2B and 2C are schematic side elevation views showing the sight in position on a gun barrel and illustrating the use thereof to prevent over shooting and under shooting;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational detail showing the sighting beads of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing a modified embodiment which utilizes sighting notches instead of beads;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of another modified embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational detail showing the adjustable sighting elements of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, more particularly to FIG. 1, the sight of the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The same comprises a horizontally elongated, substantially rectangular wire frame 12 which is mounted in a vertical plane on top of a conventional clamp 13 and projects to both sides thereof, the clamp serving to mount the entire sight in position about halfway down the length of a gun barrel.

The sight is installed by opening the clamp sufficiently to pass over the front end of the barrel and sliding it about halfway back toward the gun stock. Although the clamp 13 shown in the drawings is of the type having a conventional screw-type tightener 30 as used on automotive hoses and the like, any other suitable clamp may be employed, including a cam-type or toggle-type which opens and closes with a quick action. Also, if desired, a lining band of rubber, felt, or the like, amy be provided on the inside of the clamp to prevent the same from scratching the gun barrel.

In any event, the frame 12, which may be conveniently although not necessarily made of wire, includes an upper longitudinal member 14, a pair of end members 15 and a lower longitudinal member which is constituted by inturned portions 16 of the end members, the upper and lower frame members being in spaced parallel relation. The extremities 17 of the lower frame member portions 16 are outturned in a direction normal to the plane of the frame and are secured, as by welding or the like, to the top portion of the clamp 13. As shown in FIG. 2A, the vertical plane in which the frame 12 is disposed is preferably offset axially from the clamp, so that the clamp opening and closing mechanism does not interfere therewith.

As will be apparent from FIG. 1, the frame 12 defines a horizontally elongated sight opening 18 so that when the sight is mounted on a gun barrel, the hunter may prevent over shooting or under shooting a bird in flight and lead the bird a desired distance while keeping it on target, as long as it remains within the longitudinal limits of the sight opening.

FIGS. 2A through 2C illustrate the operation of the present gun sight to prevent over shooting or under shooting. FIG. 2 illustrates the gun sight 10 mounted approximately halfway down the barrel 35 of a gun 34. An end 15 of the frame is visible in FIG. 2A, as is the clamp 13 and the screw-tightener 30. In using a gun with the present invention, the gun is brought up to the cheek in the appropriate manner, with the eye 36 positioned as shown in FIG. 2A. If the line of sight from the eye to the target 37 passes through the frame 12 as shown in FIG. 2A, then the gun is on target. FIGS. 2B and 2C show the same elements as FIG. 2A, but wherein the gun is positioned so as to under shoot and over shoot the target, respectively. In FIG. 2B, the hunter has again brought the stock of the gun up to his check in the appropriate manner. However, in this instance he sees the target over the sight and hence he knows that he must correct or otherwise would under shoot the target. Similarly, if the hunter sees the target below the sight 10 as in FIG. 2C, he knows he is over shooting the target.

The following description realtes to the use of the elements of the invention for leading a target to the left or right. It will be understood that the use of the invention for leading the target to the left or right may be separate from or in addition to the use of the sight to prevent over shooting and under shooting.

The present invention will be particularly advantageous in the case of an open sight rifle where many shots are fired in rapid succession at fast moving big game. Heretofore, most of these shoots have been either to high or to low. However, with the sight of the present invention positioned as indicated halfway down the barrel, it will permit the hunter to more or less draw a more accurate bead on the target rather than just guess.

FIG. 3 shows a modified embodiment of the inven tion which includes means for indicating the amount of lead taken, so as to enable the hunter to take the same amount of lead on subsequent occasions, if so desired. This embodiment is the same as that already described, in that it also comprises the frame 12 with its mounting clamp 13. The lead indicating means consist of a set of sighting beads 20 which are mounted by suitable s'tems 20a at longitudinally spaced points on the lower frame member portions 16 so that they project into or are disposed within the sight opening 18. Thus, the amount of lead taken, either to the left or right, may be readily determined with respect to a particular sighting bead as well as to the ends of the frame.

FIG. shows another modification which is very similar to that in FIG. 4, except that the sighting beads 20 are substituted by sighting notches 21 which are formed in the lower frame member portions 16 in communication with the sight opening 18.

FIG. 6 illustrates another modified embodiment which, instead of using a plurality of individual sighting beads or notches at fixed points on the frame, utilizes a pair of sighting elements 22 which are longituinally slidably adjustable on the respective opposite portions 16 of the lower frame member, so that they may be set to a desired position, The elements 22 may be simple tubular sleeves slidably positioned on the frame portions 16 with a sufficiently tight fit that they are held in an adjusted position by friction. Alternatively, the sleeve elements 22 may be held in an adjusted position by set screws, or by a rack-and-detent arrangement, or by and other suitable form of positive locking means.

It may be also noted that while the drawings show the sighting elements 20, 21, 22 as being provided on the lower frame member portions 16, they may alternatively be provided on the upper frame member 14 to still serve the same purpose.

While in the foregoing there have been described and shown this preferred embodiments of the invention, various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination, a shotgun having a stock and a barrel, said barrel extending from a rear end at which it joins the stock to a front end, and a sight means for preventing vertical over shooting or under shooting of a target, said sight means including a sight attachment positioned approximately halfway between said gun barrel ends, said attachment comprising a rectangular frame defining a rectangular sight opening, said rectangular frame being formed by a pair of thin spaced apart parallel horizontal bars extending horizontally across the top of the barrel perpendicular to the axis thereof and forming the long sides of the said rectangular frame and a pair of thin vertical bars shorter than the horizontal bars and interconnecting the ends of the horizontal bars to form the short sides of said rectangle, the lower one of said horizontal bars being located close to the barrel such that when the cheek of the shooter is improperly positioned too high with respect to the stock of the gun, the barrel forward of the sight will appear within the rectangular frame of the sight and means for attaching the said attachment to the gun barrel.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame includes lead indicating means provided at longitudinally spaced points on one of said horizontal bars.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein said lead indicating means comprises a set of sighting beads mounted at longitudinally spaced points on one of said horizontal bars and projecting into said sight opening.

4. The invention of claim 2, wherein said lead indicating means comprises a set of sighting notches formed at longitudinally spaced points in one of said horizontal bars and open into the sight opening.

5. The invention of claim 2, wherein said lead indicating means comprises a pair of sighting members longitudinally slidable on one of said horizontal bars, one

on each side of the barrel. 

1. In combination, a shotgun having a stock and a barrel, said barrel extending from a rear end at which it joins the stock to a front end, and a sight means for preventing vertical over shooting or under shooting of a target, said sight means including a sight attachment positioned approximately halfway between said gun barrel ends, said attachment comprising a rectangular frame defining a rectangular sight opening, said rectangular frame being formed by a pair of thin spaced apart parallel horizontal bars extending horizontally across the top of the barrel perpendicular to the axis thereof and forming the long sides of the said rectangular frame and a pair of thin vertical bars shorter than the horizontal bars and interconnecting the ends of the horizontal bars to form the short sides of said rectangle, the lower one of said horizontal bars being located close to the barrel such that when the cheek of the shooter is improperly positioned too high with respect to the stock of the gun, the barrel forward of the sight will appear within the rectangular frame of the sight and means for attaching the said attachment to the gun barrel.
 1. In combination, a shotgun having a stock and a barrel, said barrel extending from a rear end at which it joins the stock to a front end, and a sight means for preventing vertical over shooting or under shooting of a target, said sight means including a sight attachment positioned approximately halfway between said gun barrel ends, said attachment comprising a rectangular frame defining a rectangular sight opening, said rectangular frame being formed by a pair of thin spaced apart parallel horizontal bars extending horizontally across the top of the barrel perpendicular to the axis thereof and forming the long sides of the said rectangular frame and a pair of thin vertical bars shorter than the horizontal bars and interconnecting the ends of the horizontal bars to form the short sides of said rectangle, the lower one of said horizontal bars being located close to the barrel such that when the cheek of the shooter is improperly positioned too high with respect to the stock of the gun, the barrel forward of the sight will appear within the rectangular frame of the sight and means for attaching the said attachment to the gun barrel.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame includes lead indicating means provided at longitudinally spaced points on one of said horizontal bars.
 3. The invention of claim 2, wherein said lead indicating means comprises a set of sighting beads mounted at longitudinally spaced points on one of said horizontal bars and projecting into said sight opening.
 4. The invention of claim 2, wherein said lead indicating means comprises a set of sighting notches formed at longitudinally spaced points in one of said horizontal bars and open into the sight opening. 